There are many reasons for the Mets surprising start. On the surface, Dillon Gee (RHP, NYM) isn't one of them. With a 4-3 record and 4.69 ERA, he seems to be charting a similar course to last year. Look deeper, though, and good things are happening.

Carlos Ruiz (C, PHI) has been a Godsend for the Phillies through the first two months of the season. Without two of their big guns, the club has gotten surprising production from the 33-year-old backstop. Most surprising of all if the 7 HRs—only two shy of his career high for an entire season.

Josh Johnson (RHP, MIA) supposedly entered the year healthy, having recovered from a bum shoulder that cost him much of last season. But so far, his 1-3 record, 5.36 ERA and a couple of very rocky starts is disconcerting for owners who expected him to bounce back from shoulder problems and be something close to the Cy Young contender he was in 2010.

In his prime, Juan Pierre (OF, PHI) used exceptional contact skills and blazing speed to wreck havoc on opposing pitchers. Now in his mid-30s and with his fifth team in eight years, Pierre is still deploying exceptional contact skills and good speed to disrupt opposing pitchers.

[FREE] Lyle Overbay (1B, ARI) is on his third tour of duty in Arizona, where he broke into the big leagues a decade ago as the Diamondbacks first baseman of the future. Now 35, he's in a time share with Arizona's current first baseman of the future, Paul Goldschmidt (1B, ARI), and gaining more at-bats thanks to a hot start. Is Overbay still worth fanalytic consideration?

Expectations were high for Jose Tabata (OF, PIT) in 2010 and the highly touted rookie didn't disappoint, hitting .299 with 19 steals in 405 ABs. A string of injuries stifled his production in 2011. But Tabata is healthy again, and fanalytic owners are looking to the 23-year-old to regain his form.

Coming off two down seasons, Kyle Lohse (RHP, STL) had a career year in 2011 with 14 wins and a 3.39 ERA. He started this season off on the right note by silencing the Marlins in the debut of their new ballpark. For all the recent success, Lohse's pitching history is littered with injury and inconsistency.

Freddie Freeman (1B, ATL) delivered a solid rookie season, mixing a decent batting average with good power and run production. If not for teammate Craig Kimbrel (RHP, ATL), he'd have a Rookie of the Year trophy to show for his work. Now Freeman has established a baseline for expectations. Is there also room for growth?

Rickie Weeks (2B, MIL) started quickly last year, earning his first All-Star selection with a .283-14-33 first half. But like so often in the past, injuries derailed his season. Now 29, Weeks will be counted on to help pick up the offensive slack following Prince Fielder's (1B, DET) departure.

Josh Collmenter (RHP, ARI) was called to fill in as Arizona's fifth starter early last year and ran with the opportunity, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and a WHIP below 1.00 in the season's first half. He wasn't quite as good from July on, but kept the job. But does Collmenter have the skills to merit fanalytic consideration?

Joey Votto (1B, CIN) faced a tall order last year—expectations that he would repeat his 2010 MVP and career highs in average, home runs, RBIs and SBs. Instead, his numbers were down across the board, though still very good. Does last season make a new benchmark for which to base expectations?